Author Archives: Don Follis

One of the paradoxes of being a Jesus follower is beautifully and simply described by writer Ruth Haley Barton…”Solitude is the place of our own conversion. In solitude we stop believing our own press. We discover that we are not as good as we thought but we are also more than we thought.” … RuthContinueContinue reading “We aren’t nearly as good as we think … but we are more than we thought!”

I am looking forwarding to reading Philip Yancey’s new book Vanishing Grace. It is set to be released this October.  (Yancey is one of best Christian writers of the last 3 decades … articulate, crisp, thoughtful, persuasive…)Early in my ministry, books by Yancey Where is God when it hurts, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, In HisContinueContinue reading “A healthy body feels the pain of the weakest part”

Here’s the inimitable Frederick Buechner, one of my favorite writers, on loving our ourselves… “It means simply that the ability to work for your own good despite all the less than admirable things you know about yourself is closely related to the ability to work for your neighbors’ good despite all the less than admirableContinueContinue reading “Loving yourself leads to loving your neighbor…”

Church Father St. Augustine often prayed,“O Lord, deliver me from this lust of always vindicating myself.”Whew!  I’ll second that prayer.  I should pray it every day.We have our original parents to thank for this lust.  They invented the art of excusing sin by blaming others (Gen. 3:9-13).To be honest, I know that wanting to justifyContinueContinue reading “Always ready to vindicate myself…”

A University of Illinois engineering professor won a well-deserved MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant, explained nicely in this Champaign News-Gazette piece today. The professor seemed to really find her niche and was awarded handsomely.  Good for her! Pastor Steve Sjogren in a tweet today reminds us that we all just need to find our niche, and weContinueContinue reading “Being a genius, and we all are, is about finding our true niche!”

35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” … Mark 14:34-3510 your kingdom come,your will be done,    on earth as it isContinueContinue reading “Daily surrendering to the will of God”

Here is thoughtful pastor and blogger Ron Edmondson pointing out what I see among pastors nearly every week — 10 potentially dangerous distractions.  I tried to rank them.  I can’t.  All 10 are potentially quite destructive.

In my column today in the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette, I argue that self-awareness is truly is invaluable.  I learned that late, but I got.  I’m still getting it.  And I’m so glad!